Method and apparatus for drying and burning molded ware



Dec- 23, 1930. J. M. PlLLATzKE 1,786,364

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRYNG' AND BURNING MOLDED WARE Y Fild March 18. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheetl l I/l I'l 30'5/6/29 z8 ooooooooooomoooo ooooOoOoocfooAoooooooO oooo`oooooooooooooo-oo2 oooo00000000noooooo-ooOOOOOOoQOOOObOQQo ooaoooooob'ooooooooooo l l I Z1, ZZ /ZZZS /Zaf v Il l A TTORNE Y.

Dec. 23, 1930. 1,786,364 METHOD'AND APPARATUS FoR DRYING ARD BURNING MOLDED WARE;

J. M. PlLLATzKE 3 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Filed March 18. 1929 INVENTOR.

Jam/11. j"

' ATTORNEY.

Dec. 23, 1930. J. M. PILLATZKE 1,786,364

`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING `AND BURNING MOLDED WARE Filed March 18. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet. 5

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Dec. 23, Y193() UNITED srn'liis j PATENT OFFICE JOHN-MARTIN PILLAT'zKn, or MINNEAroLIs,` MINNESOTA METHOD A ND APPARATUS FOR `DRYIN'G- AND BURNING MOLDED WARE l Application filed March 18, i929. Serial No. 347,906.

This invention relates to a method and apy paratus for drying and burning molded ware and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a method and apparatus `of such class by means of which molded ware, such as brick, tile or the like, may be dried and burned in a conf .tinuous operation, thereby providingfor the daily setting of green ware withfa corresponding daily dischargeof'iinished ware. Y v

A further 'object of the inventionI is to provide a method and apparatus as afore-v said whereby the `ware is freed from mois-` ture before being subjected to intense heat and smoke, thereby eliminatingV water` smoking of the wareand producing finished ware of uniform color and hardness throughout. Y

A further object of provide a method and apparatus as aforesaid whereby the heat to which the ware is subjected may be gradually increased in'intensity duringthe heating period inthe drying operation and gradually decreased in intensity during the cooling period after the burn-Y ing operation.

A further obj ect of the invention is to pro- V vide a method and apparatus as aforesaid by'.

means of which-theconsumption of fuelmay be conserved and the expense for installation,V maintenance and operation'maintained at a minimum. p f y' Other objects and ladvantages of thev invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings in whichV like numerals are employed to designate parts throughout the same: Figure l is a vertical.sectionpthrough a kiln forming a part of this invention', showing the kiln as it would appear atzthebeginning of the drying and `burning opera-` tion. y Y Y .Figure 2 is a top plan ofthe kiln as the the invention Vis to tend a plurality of spacedpartitions 6, there- Y byA providing a-'plurality ,of spaces 7 similar Y fireplace in elevation. v Figure 6y is a fragmentary longitudinalfi section through the kiln taken Vat a-point indicated at line 6-6 of Figure 5. Y Y

Figure 7 isa fragmentary transverse section through the-kiln taken atV a point indi-- cated at vline 7- 7 ofFigure 6. Figure 8 is a fragmentaryhorizontal section through the kiln showing the arrangement of the ware on the floor thereof..

Figure 9 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the Ware in the kiln, taken at, a, 65 plane abovethe showing in FigureS Y Figure l0 is a longitudinal section through one of the removable smoke pipes. Y

. Referring to the drawings in detail, Ithe numerals l and 2 respectively ,designate an inner and outer wall which may be formed of any suitable material, such as brick. Y The Ywalls l and 2 are arranged in spaced relation and extend in the form of a. rectangle. EX- tending between the walls l and 2 is a plurality of dividing walls 3. which are spaced apart a vdistance substantially Vequal to the distanceV between the walls l andQ, thereby.

providing a plurality of spaces 4 substan- Y tially squarein cross section which are-adapted to be filled in with earthor the like.

Disposedwithin thefareaV surrounded by the walls l" and 2,1 centrally ofsuch area, is a pair of vspaced w'al'ls' between which -eX- to the spaces'l above'referred to, which Valso are adapted tobe filled in with earth or the' like. [The'walls 5 eXtendin parallel-relation' to the lwalls 1 and A2 vand are lspaced an equal distance throughout from the wall 1. The walls 5 are of materially less height than the walls 1 and 2 as is clearly shown in Figure 3.

Carried b y the walls 1 and 2 is a roof 8 which is formed centrally thereof with an enlarged portion 9 which extends longitudinally of the roof and seats on the walls 5. Formed within the enlarged portion 9 is a smoke flue 10 which extends longitudinally of the roof throughout the entire length thereof and opens into a smoke stack 11 disposed at the forward end of the kiln. The roof 8 and walls 1 and 5 form a continuous tunnel 12 which is the burn tunnel for the kiln and which extends entirely around the walls 5. The upper wall of the tunnel 12 is formed with an upwardly extending are as indicated at 13.

Extending through the upper wall of the tunnel 12 is a plurality of smoke outlets 14 which are arranged in spaced rows extending` longitudinally of the tunnel. rThe outlets of each row are preferably spaced from each other a distance equal to the spaces between the rows. Extending through the upper wall of the smoke flue 10 is a plurality of smoke inlets 15 which are spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between the smoke outlets 14 of each row of outlets and are in alignment with such outlets transversely of the kiln. The respective inlets 15 are adapted to be connected with the aligned out-lets 14 by means of a plurality of removable pipes 16, each of which is provided with a plurality of spaced, depending nipples 17 for insertion into the outlets 14 and inlets 15. Four such removable pipes are illustrated in the present embodiment but this number may be increased or diminished as desired.

Each of the outlets 14 and inlets 15 which are not connected by means of the pipes 1G, is provided. with a removable closure cap 18.

T he walls 1 and 2 are formed with a plurality of openings 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 2T, 2S 29, 30, 31 and 32 whereby access may be had to the interior of the kiln and whereby such interior is divided into a plurality of zones 19, 20, 21', 227 23, 24', 25', 26, 27, 28', 29', 30', 31', 32. Each of the openings 19 to 32 is provided with a door 33 to provide for the closing of the openings when desired.

Prior to putting the kiln in operation a temporary fireplace 34 is erected within one of the zones. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 the fireplace 34 is shown within the zone 20 although any other Zone may be selected if desired. The fireplace 34 is preferably formed of brick and extends throughout the entire width and height of the zone within which itis placed. The fireplace includes a grate 35 extending rearwardly therefrom and is provided with a plurality of openings 36 above the plane of the grate for the passage of fuel to the grate and is further provided with a plurality of ash-pit openings 37 below the plane of the grate. Each of the openings 3G is provided with a fire door 38. After the fireplace 34 has been erected, the remainder of the Zone within which the fireplace is positioned is stacked with ware, which is extended throughout tri-e next four Zones. At the end of the stack of ware remote from the fireplace a partition 39 is erected which is formed with a. plurality of perforations 40. The partition 39 i.; formed from a free burning material, preferably paper. in order that the partition may bc burned when desired.

rl`he ware is stacked within the kiln to provide a plurality of spaced fire passages 41 which extend longitudinally of the stack of ware throughout its entire length and one of which is disposed in the vertical plane of each row of the smoke outlets 14. Above the plane of the passages 41 and beneath the outlet-s 14, the ware is stacked in a manner to provide a grate which extends from the top of the tunnel to the upper planes of the passages 41. Between the grate forming portions of the ware, the ware is stacked in superimposed layers with the ware of alternating rows inclining iii-opposite directions and with the ware of each layer arranged in parallel, spaced relation. T he manner of stacking the grate portions of the ware is illustrated in Figures 6 and T and the manner of stacking the ware between the grate portions thereof is illustrated in Figures 6 and 9. As illustrated in Figure 8, the ware is stacked at each end of the kiln to provide a plurality of fire passages 42 extending at right angles to the passages 41 and communicating therewith.

After the fireplace has been erected and ware stacked as illustrated in Figure 1, certain of the smoke outlets 14 above the ware are connected with aligned smoke inlets 15 by means of the removable pipes 16. Preferably four of such pipes are used with the one nearest the fireplace removed approximately four outlets therefrom. All of the outlets 14 and inlets 15 which are not connected by means of the pipes 16 are closed by means of the caps 18. A fire is then started in the .fireplace and the fire doors 38 are left open to keep the fire low for approximately three days. The door adjacent the partition 3D is left open to admit air into the tunnel which is drawn through the perforations 40 and through the ware to the pipes 16, where it meets the heated air from the fireplace and passes into the smoke fiue.

In this manner the portion of the ware between the pipes and fireplaces is dried by the heated air from the fireplace and the portion of ware between the pipes and partition is partially dried by the air drawn through the partition.

After approximately three days the ware adjacent thel fireplace will have dried suffi-V ciently to permit the lire to be increased. As soon as the air entering the first pipe 16 reaches a temperature of approximately 200Ov inlets 15 from which each pipe is removed be! ing closed by means of the caps 18. As soon as the first pipe 16 is removed from the fireplace approximately fifteen outlets, the fire is fed from above through the outlets 14 whereby the fire may be caused to creep along the passages ll and constantly maintain a fixed distance from the pipes 16.

During the period in which the fire is burning slowly in the fireplace, ware is stacked in the zone adjacent'the partition 39 and when the zone is filled a similar partition is erected at the end thereof. f As soon as the second partition has been erected, the first one is burned. TNare is stacked in successive Zones in advance of the advancingpip'es 16 and upon the filling of each zone, a partition is erected atV the end thereof and the prior erected parti# there is the approximate equivalent of one tion is burned'.V As soon as the fire has advanced approximately five Zones, the ware in the Zone in which the fireplace is erected is completely cooled and ready to be removed. The fireplace and ware may then be removed from this Zone and the Zone filledwith green ware in its proper order. t

In Figure 2, the pipe`s16 are illustrated as having reached Zone 30', in which position the fire will have reached Zone 26. The length of the nre is maintained substantially equal to the length of a zone and the equivalent of substantially three Zones is maintained between the fire andV the pipes. green ware is stacked in at least two Zones in advance of the pipes.V The temperature in the zone in which the fire is burning is'maintained at about 1000?D F., to 3000o F., depending on the material being treated, and be- Y tween the fire and pipes 16, the temperature within the Zones gradually decreases to approximately 200o F. ln advance of the pipes vthe temperature gradually decreases to atmospheric temperature at the point where air is admitted to the Ware through the inflammable partition 39. The temperature also gradually decreases from the fire Zone to normal atmospheric:temperature in the zone containing ware-which is ready to be removed. During the continuous operationof the kiln,

Zone of ware being cooked, three Zones of dried, uncooked ware, four Zones 'of cooling ware, and two zones of partially Vdried ware. The remainder of the zones Ymay be stacked with greenfware as the finished ware is removed therefrom. f l Y -V Preferably 1.- Anv apparatus; off rdescribedV comprising, an endless burn tunnel 'Y having its upperfwalliprovided withga plurality of smoke outlets, asmoke flue extend# ing lengthwise of the-tunnel andhavingit-s `upper -wall'formed with a plurality of lon`gi v tudinally spaced smoke, inlet`s,- removable caps normally closingsaid outlets and inlets, means for. selectivelyY connecting l certain ofv said outletsandinletsto provide for the passage-of smoke from the burntunnelto the smoke fiuethrough selected outlets and inf lets, and means forcreating drafts of air in said tunnel on opposite sides of said connect-y ed outlets andginlets', said drafts vflowing longitudinally of the tunnel toward the connected outlets and inlets.`

2. A method of'drying and burning molded ware consisting of arranging ware in anl elongated stack, maintaining a creepingfire through the stack,U lengthwise of the latter,

maintaining a draft of'air in advance of the lire, lengthwise of the stack, and in a direction toward the fire, Vmaintaining an air and smoke outlet between the fire and the source of said draft of air, andintermittently adding tothe stack of ware to maintain a portion thereof in advance of said outlet.

3. A method of drying and burning molded ware in a continuous operation consisting of arranging ware in an elongated stack having longitudinally extending fireV passages, maintaining a creeping firein the passages, maintaining a draft of air in advance of the fire, lengthwise of the stack,l and in a'direc tion toward the fire, maintaining an air and smoke outlet between the fire and the source of said, draft of air, and intermittently adding to the stack of ware to maintain a portion thereof f in advance of the air and smoke outlet.

ros

4. A method of drying and burning mold-i 4 ed ware consisting of. arranging ware in an elongated stack having longitudinally extendin fire passages adjacent the bottom thereo erecting an inflammable, 'perforated partition adjacent onev end of the stack of ware, maintaining-a nre for apredetermined period adjacent the opposite end of the stack of ware, maintaining a draft of air through the partition anda portion of the stack of Vware and toward the fire, providing an air and smoke outlet between the ends of the stack of ware, feeding fuel -to the fire passages adjacentfthe fire to cause thefire to creep along said passages, advancing the air and smoke outlet to maintain the same in advance of the creeping fire, intermittently adding to the stack of ware to maintain one end thereof in advance of the advancing smoke outlet,'erecting additional infiamma- `ble, Vperforated partitions at predetermined points along the added ware, and successively burning said partitions upon the completion of each additional partition.

5. A method of drying and burning molded Ware consisting of subjecting the Ware to indirect heat gradually increasing in teinperature from atmospheric temperature to approximately 200o F., then subjecting the Ware to direct heat gradually increasing in temperature from approximately 200o F., to approximately 2000O F., and then subjecting the Ware to indirect heat gradually decreasing in temperature from approximately 2000o F., to atmospheric temperature.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my 'signature hereto.

JOHN MARTIN PILLATZKE. 

